20140214001829A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 172M · Pinson, TN · February 14, 2014

Date: February 14, 2014 · 18:25 local
Place: Pinson, TN
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N194EX
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA14LA122
Reported as: Cessna 172M
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 2
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 150 total150 in this make and model30 in the last 90 days

N194EXRegistration cancelled Mar 21, 2018 · Cessna 172MS/N 17266200 · Built 1975 Airframe modelCessna 172M Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

At 1605 local time, aircraft N194EX departed on a VFR flight intended for kmsl. During the flight, weather conditions worsened and the aircraft had to descend to 3000FT then later to 1100 ft to maintain VFR. At 1735 local, aircraft requested to divert to mkl but could not find the airport. At 1739, the pilot decided that they would continue to kmsl because they were familiar with the route. At 1744, mem center advised that weather was bad at MSL. The pilot looked for an emergency landing spot while center was looking for alternate. At 1745, the pilot attempted to land in a field near Pinson, TN. Mem center was notified of his intentions. The nose gear snapped off. The right wing was damaged by trees. The left wing received minor damage. The tail section, starting at the back window of the aircraft, snapped and twisted upside down.

The aircraft had sufficient fuel on board. Indications showed that the engine was making power.

As the FAA filed it

AT 1605 LOCAL TIME, AIRCRAFT N194EX DEPARTED ON A VFR FLIGHT INTENDED FOR KMSL. DURING THE FLIGHT, WEATHER CONDITIONS WORSENED AND THE AIRCRAFT HAD TO DESCEND TO 3000FT THEN LATER TO 1100 FT TO MAINTAIN VFR. AT 1735 LOCAL, AIRCRAFT REQUESTED TO DIVERT TO MKL BUT COULD NOT FIND THE AIRPORT. AT 1739, THE PILOT DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO KMSL BECAUSE THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE ROUTE. AT 1744, MEM CENTER ADVISED THAT WEATHER WAS BAD AT MSL. THE PILOT LOOKED FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING SPOT WHILE CENTER WAS LOOKING FOR ALTERNATE. AT 1745, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A FIELD NEAR PINSON, TN. MEM CENTER WAS NOTIFIED OF HIS INTENTIONS. THE NOSE GEAR SNAPPED OFF. THE RIGHT WING WAS DAMAGED BY TREES. THE LEFT WING RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE. THE TAIL SECTION, STARTING AT THE BACK WINDOW OF THE AIRCRAFT, SNAPPED AND TWISTED UPSIDE DOWN.

THE AIRCRAFT HAD SUFFICIENT FUEL ON BOARD. INDICATIONS SHOWED THAT THE ENGINE WAS MAKING POWER.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA14LA122Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPinson, TNThe noninstrument-rated pilot’s decision to continue flight into deteriorating weather conditions at night and his failure to divert in a timely manner, which resulted in an off-airport precautionary landing and subsequent substantial damage to the airplane.Feb 14, 2014 · Substantial damage